Graduate Program

Degrees Offered

  • Master of Science in Chemistry (M.S.)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (Ph.D.)

The program in Chemistry is designed to encourage a broad education while remaining flexible enough to permit students to pursue their own interests and to develop programs to satisfy their goals. The specific requirements for admission to the graduate program are a minimum of 28 credit hours of chemistry. A general physics course and mathematics through differential and integral calculus are also required.

Interdisciplinary Programs

Computational Science and Engineering: The Computational Science and Engineering interdisciplinary graduate certificate program prepares students to effectively use high-performance computing within their disciplines and is open to graduate students in this department. See the School of Engineering section of this Catalog.

Nanoscience and Microsystems Engineering: This department participates in the interdisciplinary Nanoscience and Microsystems Engineering M.S. and Ph.D. programs; for more information, see the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies section of this Catalog.


Application Deadlines

Chemistry and Chemical Biology accepts applications for Fall semester only. For best consideration, the applications should be submitted before January 1. Late applications are considered on the basis of availability. Only completed files are reviewed and it is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure all required materials are sent in a timely fashion. The department does not accept email copies of any information.


Master of Science in Chemistry

M.S. Requirements for Plan I- Thesis

24 total credit hours, including the following plus 6 credit hours of Thesis (599):

18 credit hours of graded (A, B, etc.) coursework
12 of the 18 credit hours of graded (A, B, etc.) coursework must be at the 500-level or above
Required core courses
CHEM 501 Molecular Structure Theory
CHEM 511 Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry
CHEM 521 Biological Chemistry
CHEM 536 Synthesis and Mechanism in Inorganic Chemistry
Topics courses from CHEM 537-587, excluding CHEM 569
2-4 credit hours of CHEM 625 (Divisional Seminar)
Up to 4 credit hours of CHEM 650


M.S. Requirements for Plan III-Coursework Only

32 total credit hours, including the following:

24 credit hours of graded (A, B, etc.) coursework
18 of the 24 credit hours of graded (A, B, etc.) coursework must be at the 500-level or above
Required core courses
CHEM 501 Molecular Structure Theory
CHEM 511 Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry
CHEM 521 Biological Chemistry
CHEM 536 Synthesis and Mechanism in Inorganic Chemistry
Topics courses from CHEM 537-587, excluding CHEM 569
2-4 credit hours of CHEM 625

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry

Ph.D. Requirements

48 total credit hours, including the following plus 18 credit hours of Dissertation (699):

18 credit hours of graded (A, B, etc.) coursework at the 500-level or above
Required core courses
CHEM 501 Molecular Structure Theory
CHEM 511 Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry
CHEM 521 Biological Chemistry
CHEM 536 Synthesis and Mechanism in Inorganic Chemistry
Topics course from CHEM 537-587, excluding CHEM 569
3-6 credit hours of CHEM 625 (Divisional Seminar)
Enough hours of graduate credit (CHEM 650 or 623) to meet the total of 48 credit hours
(no more than 24 credit hours of CHEM 650)

Courses

CHEM 1105. Preparation for College Chemistry. (2)



CHEM 1106. Foundations of Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 1110C. Chemistry in Our Community Lecture and Laboratory. (4)



CHEM 1120C. Introduction to Chemistry for Non-Majors Lecture and Laboratory. (4)



CHEM 1215. General Chemistry I for STEM Majors. (3)



CHEM 1215L. General Chemistry I for STEM Majors Laboratory. (1)



CHEM 1217. Principles of Chemistry I. (3)



CHEM 1225. General Chemistry II for STEM Majors. (3)



CHEM 1225L. General Chemistry II for STEM Majors Laboratory. (1)



CHEM 1227. Principles of Chemistry II. (3)



CHEM 1996. Topics. (1-6, no limit Δ)



CHEM 2120. Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. (4)



CHEM 2310C. Quantitative Analysis Lecture and Laboratory. (4)



CHEM **301. Organic Chemistry. (3)



CHEM **302. Organic Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 303L. Organic Chemistry Laboratory. (1)



CHEM 304L. Organic Chemistry Laboratory. (1)



CHEM **311. Physical Chemistry. (3)



CHEM **312. Physical Chemistry. (3)



CHEM **315. Introductory Physical Chemistry. (4)



CHEM **325. Special Topics for Undergraduates. (1-3, may be repeated once Δ)



CHEM **326. Special Topics for Undergraduates. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



CHEM **391. Readings in Selected Topics. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



CHEM **392. Readings in Selected Topics. (1-3, may be repeated once Δ)



CHEM 411L. Laboratory Methods In Physical Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 421. Biological Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 425. Organic Chemistry of Biological Pathways. (3)



CHEM *431. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 432L. Advanced Synthetic Chemistry Laboratory. (3)



CHEM 452. Polymer Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 453L. Analytical Instrumentation: Theory and Application. (4)



CHEM 457. Environmental Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 469 / 569. Characterization Methods for Nanostructures. (3)



CHEM 471. Advanced Topics in Chemistry. (2-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



CHEM 495. Undergraduate Problems. (1-3)



CHEM 496. Undergraduate Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 4 Δ)



CHEM 497. Senior Honors Research. (1-3 to a maximum of 4 Δ)



CHEM 498. Senior Honors Research. (1-3 to a maximum of 4 Δ)



CHEM *499. Chemistry Seminar-Research. (1, may be repeated once Δ)



CHEM 500. Scientific Teaching in Chemistry. (1-3, no limit Δ)



CHEM 501. Molecular Structure Theory. (3)



CHEM 504. Chemical Dynamics. (3)



CHEM 511. Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 514. Synthesis in Organic Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 515. Topics in Organic Chemistry. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



CHEM 516. Topics in Organic Chemistry. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



CHEM 521. Biological Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 536. Synthesis and Mechanism in Inorganic Chemistry. (3)



CHEM 537. Topics in Inorganic Chemistry. (3, may be repeated twice Δ)



CHEM 538. Topics in Inorganic Chemistry. (3, may be repeated twice Δ)



CHEM 545. Topics in Analytical Chemistry. (3, may be repeated twice Δ)



CHEM 546. Topics in Analytical Chemistry. (3, may be repeated twice Δ)



CHEM 567. Topics in Physical Chemistry. (3, may be repeated twice Δ)



CHEM 569 / 469. Characterization Methods for Nanostructures. (3)



CHEM 587. Advanced Topics in Biological Chemistry. (3, may be repeated twice Δ)



CHEM 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



CHEM 623. Research Colloquium. (1, may be repeated nine times Δ)



CHEM 625. Chemistry Divisional Seminar. (1, no limit Δ)



CHEM 627. Chemistry Instrumentation Seminar. (1, may be repeated once Δ)



CHEM 650. Research/Readings. (2-12, no limit Δ)



CHEM 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



Course Search:




Keyword Search:

Office of the Registrar

MSC11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809